How much carbon dioxide does each country emit per person?

The chart

In 2024, people in the United States emitted 13.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide each, in China 9.3 and in India 2.2, against 4.7 worldwide. The highest figure was 82.8 tonnes in Palau, then Qatar (47.3) and Bahrain (23.9). Search 203 countries and territories. The figures count carbon dioxide from burning fuel, industry and other sources, but not from changes in land use such as cutting forests; in a small country, a few power plants, refineries or fuel sales spread over few people can make the figure very high.

The lesson

How to read this chart

Each bar is the carbon dioxide a country put into the air in a year, divided by its population, in tonnes per person. The dashed line is the world. A country can emit a lot in total but little per person if it has many people, and a tiny country with a refinery or power plant can top the list.

Questions to discuss

1. Compare the United States, China and India. Which emits the most per person, and is that the one that emits the most in total?
2. Why might some small countries have the highest figures on the chart?
3. Which seems fairer for comparing countries' share of the blame for climate change, total emissions or emissions per person? Why?

Share it with your class

Post this link in Google Classroom, Canvas or Moodle. Students see the chart, how to read it and the questions; they don't need an account.